Page 32 of Fall into Savagery

I nodded, turning my face around and kissing the inside of his palm.

In the light of the day, I was a little embarrassed about my meltdown last night.

I told him I would be strong, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had to shoulder all this weight for me.

I moved in closer and leaned up on my toes, pressing my lips against his stubbly jaw.

I heard his breath catch as I pulled away.

I hoped my eyes expressed my remorse.

He seemed to understand, though, because he said, “I know, baby. It’s okay.”

Again, I nodded. He grabbed my bag that I had placed on the bed with one hand, and my hand with the other, pulling me out of the room.

We walked through the quiet house.

I didn’t even know why Francisco requested for us to be here for the last two days. Aside from my talk with him that first day, I had seen little of the man.

And now we were leaving, and though a part of me was relieved to be getting out of California and back to New York, it felt like something was missing.

We came outside to the cool morning air. A black car was already waiting for us out front.

The drive to the airstrip was quiet and uneventful. I caught Kirill’s eyes from the rearview mirror a few times, but I always looked away quickly.

I wondered if things would have been different had Kirill been the one in charge of my protection and not Leo.

His betrayal still stung.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against the window.

All too soon, Mikhail placed his hand on my shoulder to get my attention.

“We’re here,kotyonok.”

I nodded and let him get out of the car first.

I remembered what Damien had said about that.

Would he be proud to know I remembered this one simple rule he set up for me?

I didn’t know, but God, did I want the chance to tell him about it.

After the initial checkup of the plane, we took off quickly.

I tried to do as Mikhail said and catch up on my sleep, but there was just so much going on in my mind.

Mostly, I just wished for the power to move time forward so that I could know the result of it all.

This waiting around was really messing with me.

I closed my eyes and tried to shut the world out.

And though I didn’t think I could fall asleep, I soon found myself in the middle of a dream I didn’t even remember. It must not have been anything good, considering how fast my heart was racing when I woke.

The plane had just landed, and I realized it was the pilot speaking through the speakers that woke me up.

I turned and found Mikhail’s blue eyes on me.

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